Production of thickened products from fatty acid esters



PAE'TNT or PRODUCTION OF C PRODUCTS FROM FATTY AGE ESTEBS 1 Paul Stamberger, Dover, Del.

No Bra. Application January Serial No. 472,022

This invention relates to the production of thickened masses or films from esters of long chain fatty acids by a process of oxidation. The

- ing the oxidation of the esters in aqueous dispersions or emulsions.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of my copending application, Serial No. 465,636, filed November 14, 1942. As is mentioned in said co-pending application, it is well"-- known that drying and semi-drying oils can be 2 I when hydrogen peroxide i brought in contact with drying oils and similar products in the presence of suitable catalysts, the solidification of the oil will take place within a very short time even throughout a mass of considerable thickness or size, and that when producing films of a few millimeters thickness, it is-not necessary to increase the surface of the oil to be oxidized to the extent required for oxidation with oxygen or oxygen containing gas.

For theprocess which is the subject of the present invention, it is essential that a non-gas thickened and ultimately solidified by oxidation. Thi has frequently been done by blowing the oil, usually at elevated temperature; with an oxygen containing gas, such as air, whereby the thickening and solidifying takes place. Such an oxidation is a relatively slow process which can only be controlled with difliculties and requires considerable skill. It is believed that such an oxidation reaction takes place on the interface of the oil and the gas. The products of such an oxidation dissolve in the oil below such an interface (which oil is still unchanged) and the oxidation products thereby form a colloidal solution. This process continues until all the oil is transformed into a mass containing a large quantity of oxidized products. The velocity of such a reaction may be increased by enlarging the surface of the drying oil in contact with the oxygen. This may be eflected either by spreading the oil into a thin film Or by dispersing the oil in a medium, for example, by producing a dispersion 0r emulsion of the oil in water with small dispersed particles. For this purpose the best particles are of one micron or less diameter.

The present invention is based on the discovery that esters of unsaturated fatty acids formed with polyvalent alcohols are oxidized remarkably easily in the presence of hydrogen peroxide; and further, on the observation that hydrogen eroxide itself is a very effective oxidizing agent for such unsaturated fatty acid esters, when the hydrogen peroxide is used in the presence of cat alysts.

According to the present invention such a pro!- ess is used to thicken and even to solidify natural or modified fatty oils or other natural or synthetic esters containing unsaturated fatty acids, and to produce therefrom solidifiable, sticky, or

,=-s01id masses suitable respectively as film coatings, adhesives, and the like. It was found that eous oxidizing agent, capable of being broughtin solution, is used and that such agent decomposes without leaving a non-volatile residue.

Thus hydrogen'peroxide and solutions of'hydrogen .peroxide may be employed. It is further an importantnfeature to use such amounts of the oxidizing agent that. an approximate saturation, or complete saturation of the fatty acid esters with the oxygen without decomposition of the oil, is attained, this being accompanied by a spontaneous solidification of the oil.

It is still further of importance that the oxidation be carried out in the presence of catalysts, so that the oxidation may be effected at low temperatures, even at room temperature, (that is about 10-40 C.) In this waysolid products maybe formed even at room temperature. In such a process the presence of catalysts accelerates the oxidation, and in addition, the nature and quantity of catalysts otherwise influence the oxidation process. A product, the oxidation of which is carried out to the extent above mentioned, without decomposition of the fatty acid esters, has different and advantageous properties, as compared with products obtained by a different degree of oxidation.

In carrying out the process in the presence of catalysts, it is possible to influence the reaction to such an extent that a spontaneous and very rapid solidification of the fatty acid esters will take place; In using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidizing agent, various known metallic catalysts, consisting of heavy metals may be employed with definite advantage, since these catalysts are acti vated by the hydrogen peroxide. Such catalysts, in fact, manifest far greater activity when used with hydrogen peroxide, than when used with other-oxidizing-agents (for example, oxygen gas).

It is an advantage of the process that it can be used in a very simple and effective manner to carry out oxidation of dispersions and emulsions of drying oils or materials containing drying oil fatty acids, the oxidation being very effecof water, and 50 grams of an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution of 30 volume per cent concentration are placed in two separate flasks. 20 grams of tung oil in which 0.3 gram of cobalt is dissolved are poured over each of these liquids forming a film of 10 millimeters thickness. Within a few minutes a solid film formation can be observed in the flask containing hydrogen peroxide and in two hours time the entire oil film is transferred into a solid dry mass. The reaction is accompanied by heat evolution but no formation of oxygen gas could be observed. In the other flask where the tune oil was placed over water only, a film formation could only be observed after 30 minutes, and even after 24 hours the contents of the flask was only solid on the surface, showing there a sticky, soft mass.

This behavior of hydrogen peroxide is utilized in the present invention for the production of fast drying masses, solid dry masses, as well as solid adhesives from esters of polyvalent alcohols and unsaturated long chain fatty acids, or in general from chemical compounds containing such unsaturated long chain fatty acids. The best method found to carry out this invention for transforming the fatty acid esters into products having the improved properties, such as thickened consistency, is to disperse the fatty acid compounds in water by a process of emulsification and then bring the hydrogen peroxide in contact with the dispersed particles. According to the extent of this oxidation process, a viscous rapidly drying, for instance, solidifying or a solid dry mass, or even an adhesive, will remain after evaporation of the water or after coagulation of the dispersion.

The application of hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent, preferably in a concentrated solution, allows the reaction to be carried out in the emulsified state of the oil or similar products at room temperature.

As above mentioned, products of different consistency may be secured by appropriate selection of materials and regulation of the treatment. As a guide in this connection, it is mentioned that solid and sometimes even quite hard products are secured either (a) when employing heat bodied or blown esters of fatty acids having more than one double bond, for instance, heat bodied linoleic acid esters, heat bodied or blown oils, or (b) when employing fatty oils or esters. havin conjugated double bonds, whether or not the materials of this group are heat bodied or blown. Examples of the latter class are tuna oil; oiticica oil and dehydrated 'castor oil. A

Considerable advantage is obtained from the employment of heat bodied oils having more than one double bond. be achieved in any of various different ways, as by heating at ele ted temperature in the presence or absence of agents tending to promote vantageous to use combinations of catalysts.

Such heat bodying may heat bodying. Blown oils or esters, secured for instance by blowing air therethrough at elevated temperature, will also attain satisfactory, body '75 products Even in cases where the quantity of oxidizing agent added is insufficient to yield products which will display spontaneous solidification, it may nevertheless be of advantage to employ heat bodied oils or esters or esters of fatty acids having conjugated double bonds. In this event, additional oxidation may, if desired, be effected by other oxidizing agents, such for instance, as oxygen gas.

In general, these starting materials, especially heavily heat bodied oils, require less oxidizing agent for a given degree of change in consistency, thereby providing the advantage that smaller quantities of oxidizing agent may be used, with corresponding reduction in cost of materials. Moreover, the process proceeds more rapidly which is of advantage, and products of improved properties are obtained from employment of smaller quantities of oxidizing agent, since the position products present, therefore, may be maintained very small.

As catalysts in the process, oxidation catalysts in general may be used. I have found oxidation catalysts known for use with drying oils, as in the manufacture of varnishes, lacquers and the like, are particularly ,eflfective. For instance, heavy metal soaps may be employed, such as linoleates, resinates and naphthenates of cobalt, manganese, lead, zinc, iron and copper. Salts of such heavy metals with either organic or inorganic compo ds may be employed. It is ad- These can be added either to the oil before it is dispersed or to the dispersion before or afterthe addition of the hydrogen peroxide. The properties of the product can be controlled over a wide range by varying the amount of hydrogen peroxide which, as a matter of fact, reacts quantitatively and gives up the free oxygen to the drying oils or compounds containing unsaturated fatty acids. The amount and nature of the oxidation catalyst has also a marked effect on the properties of the product formed. 3

If water dispersions of the unsaturated fatty acid compounds are to be produced, it is important to carry out the process in such a manner that the stability is not impaired during or after the reaction. To produce stable dispersions or emulsions it is advisable to use emulsifying agents which will keep the dispersion ina stable unchanged state after the oxidation process is completed. For this purpose, the dispersing agentsshould be of a type such that if the formation of acidic oxidizing or decomposition products takes place, the consequent change of the pH of the dispersion will not persion. Agents of the typ mentioned just aboveare disclosed in my copending application 455,607, filed August 21, 1942. In general, such agents belong to that class of materials which are nonionic or are cation active substances, as brought out more fully n said copending application. 1

These agents can be added bef0re,: during or after the emulsion is made, separately or in combination with each other. Em'uisi'fying agents belonging to the. class of non-ionic substantial; are, for example, esterszof long chain fatty acids such as nonaethylen'glycolmonooleate', higher fatty alcohols such as dodecylalcohol, condensation of polyethylenoxides.

Emuisitying. staafl'ect the stability ofthe disj bilizing and dispersing agents belonging to the class of cation active substances are, for example, so called invert soaps, in which, contrary to anionic soaps, the long chain is attached to a positive group such as a quaternary ammonium group, or a pyridinium group, for example,'duodecylammonium bromide or cetylipiridiniumbromide and similar substances.

It is furthermore desirable to work under conditions which permit no unreacted oxygen gas to escame from the reaction vessel, due to too rapid decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide. If the decomposition takes place too rapidly or suddenly, it tends to be accompanied by gas evolution which may be so rapid as to take place on the surface of the dispersion before thorough admixture with the total qu'antityof materialto be oxidized. This may cause unwanted foaming and may also adversely influence the economy of the process.

Diiiiculties of this type may be avoided by operating under superatmospheric pressure which will serve not only to prevent escape of oxygen but also to decrease foaming, and in this case the pH need not be retained within any special limits.

On the other hand, instead of employing superatmospheric pressure, too rapid decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide can be avoided if the pH value of the dispersion be adjusted within certain limits mentioned below prior to addition of the oxidizing agent. Thus, I have found that if the pH value of the dispersion is properly adjusted, the oxidation may be caused to take place at a higher, or at least at no lower, rate than the rate of decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide.

It was found that for the above purpose the limits are between pH l0 and pH 4. It was further found that especially good results were obtained when the pH of the dispersion to which the hydrogen peroxide is added is kept about 8.5. If the pH is more on the alkaline side, too rapid decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide will take place and unreacted oxygen gas will escape, causing considerable foaming. If, on the other hand, the pH is far on the acidic side, for example, below 4, the action of the hydrogen peroxide is slowed down to such an extent that the oxidation of the dispersed particles is negligible, even after several days. It should be understood that the optimum hydrogen ion concentration will vary within the above according to the rate of combination of the drying oil or ester with oiwgen.

It is also possible to reduce the amount of oxidizing agent used with the dispersion'of the oil by oxidizing the oil previous to the dispersion process, or by heat-body g the oil. Such a process can be carried out by blowing the oil with oxygen containing gases and/or heating the oil at elevated temperature. I

The above process can also be carried out by passing oxygen or an oxygen containing gas through the dispersion containing a suitable liquid oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of .an oxidation catalyst. Such a process can be advantageously carried out by applying the gas under pressure which is greater than atmospheric. The oxygen containing gas and the liquid oxidizing agent, such as a solution of hydrogen peroxide in water, can be introduced simultaneously. The dispersion itself can also be kept under the same pressure as the oxidizing gas. Supplemental treatment with oxygen gas may be adopted subsequent to the treatment with e" in hydrogen peroxide in which event a drier product may be secured.

To modify the products obtained-natural or synthetic resinsfsuch as rosins or gums, can be dissolved in the material to be oxidized, for instance in a fatty oil or in mixed esters of unsatu rated fatty acids with polybasic, acids, such as phthalic or maleic acids. Furthermore, phenolic resin modified oils and the like can also be used.

Inorganic pigments, dyes and fillers can be dis- In all examples the hydrogen peroxide used for oxidation was of 30% concentration by volume.

. EXAMPLES EXA PLE 1 400 parts of a dehydrated castor oil was mixed with a solution of driers, as naphthanates, so the oil contained 0.3% Pb, 0.03% 00., and 0.02% Zn.

To emulsify the oil the following emulsifying agents were added: 2 parts of a polyethyleneoxide condensation product with castor oil, (a satisfactory product .of this type being marketed by the-General Dyestufi Corporation under the trade name of Emulphor ELA), which is a nonionic product made by condensation of polyethylenoxide with an alcohol; ,1 part of cetyl dimethyi benzyl ammonium chloride (which is marketed by the Rohm & Haas Company'under the trade name of Triton K-60) which is a cationic active soap, consisting of a quaternary substituted ammonia product. 200 parts of water whieh was mixed up with 0.5 part of an aralkyl polyether alcohol condensation product, which is a nonionic emulsifying agent (a satisfactory product of this type being marketed by the Rohm 8r Haas Company under the trade name of Triton NE),

and 1 part of triethanolamine was stirred in the oil. The mixture was allowed topass through a The hydrogen peroxide was a stabilized commercial product, the pH of which was 6. Slight foaming-wasobserved during the addition of the hydrogen peroxide and some heating effect. The pH of the mix after the total quantity of the H202 was mixed in was 6.5. '24 hours later all the H202 was combined with the oil and no surplus could be detected; The pH of such a mixrwas 4.7. After drying by evaporation of -the'water, a solid but soft film remained which became hard and solid by drying on the air (in'a similar manner as drying oils behave when e posed to the oxidizing action of the air). By elevated temperature, this process took only 10 minutes. The temperature-was C. The dispersion remained unchanged tor several months. After two, weeks the pH was found to be 4.

EXAMPLE 2 400 parts of a dehydrated castor oil as above were blown with air at 180 C. for 3 hours. The dryers were added as 0.3% Pb, 0.03% Co and 0.03% Zn (calculated on the oil) and the term perature was reduced to 120 C. and the blowing with air continued for 1 more hour. To disperse the mix the temperature was reduced to 60 Cg and 2 parts of a polyethyleneoxide condensation product with castor oil, (as above) 1 part of cetyl A phenolic resin modified varnish made in the usual manner, by cooking a gallons of China-wood oil, 16 gallons of linseed oil and 100 lbs. oi! a paratertiary alizyl phenol formaldehyde condensation product type resin, said type also referred to in the literature as pure phenolic resin," (a suitable product being marketed by the Stroock 8; Wlttenberg Corporation under the trade name oi. Arotene 700) was used. Briers were added which were calculated on the fatty oil constituents of the oil. The ultimate quantity of driers were 0.3% lead, 0.02% cobalt and 0.05% manganese. For emulsifying, for every 100 parts of the varnish 2 parts of a polyethyleneoxide condensation product with castor oil, (as above,) 0.3 port of a polyethylene oxide condensation product with oleyl alcohol (a non-ionic emulsifying agent of this type being marketed by General Dyestuil Corporation under the trade name of Emulphor ON) and 0.5 part of triethanolamine were dissolved in the varnish itself. 50 parts water were used, in which 1 part of cetyl dimethyl henzyl ammonium chloride, (as above.) and 0.2 part of an alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, a quaternary ammonium salt. '(asuitable product .being marketed by the General Dyestu'f! Corporation under the trade name of zep'hiran) were dissolved. All the other ingredintsere identical with those used in the previous?";. $%mples. The parts are calculated on the varnish content or the dispersion. ess. the pH of the dispersion was- 82. For oxidation 100 parts of thew? dispersion were slowly mixed with 16 artner 30 volume percent hydroeen peroxide'solution. Alter the reaction was completed, the pH of the dispersion was 7.5.

After evaporation ofthe water at room temperature a solid, strong elastic remained.

A batch a. chemically treated alkali refine linseed oil was employed in this example. said oil beins a nialeic anhydride modmed linseed oil. To the batch naphthenate driers were added, in quantities giving metal content on the basis of the on as follows: 0.24% lead, 0.048% cobalt, and 16% l An aqueous dispersion or the oil containing the driers was then made up 0! the following parts (by weight) 100 parts with maleic anhydride chemically treated linseed oil (containing the metal driers) 2.5 parts a polyeth'yleneoxide condensation product with oleyl alcohol (as above) (preliminarily dissolved in the oil) 1 part an .alkyl'dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, a quaternary ammonium salt (as above) 45 parts of water (in which 0.4 part of triethanolamlne was dissolved) Ten parts of hydrogen peroxide were added to the dispersion. After standing for twenty-four hours, apparently no surplus of hydrogen peroxide remained, and at this time a liquid product was secured upon evaporation of water from a test sample. 7

Five additional parts of hydrogen peroxide were added, which apparently were not absorbed by After the emulsiiflcationpmcthe oil, since a. surplus was present even. after forty-eight hours standing. A film produced from this dispersion remained liquid after evaporation of the water, but upon further in air, the

film solidified very rapidly, showing wrinkle formation. The pH of the rsion was 4.7.

Although surplus hydrogen peromde was present, liquid films were stilhproduced irom'test samples made even after the dispersion had stood for sixty days.

Similar liquid products and were obtained by the same general procedure when various other oils, including maleic de mood soya bean oils, sardine ,oil, and alkali ed linseed oil.

All of the oils just mentionedias well as the maleic anhydride modified linseed oil indicated that oxidation took hydrogen peroxide, this being indicated by disappearance of hydrogen peroxide and also by production of decomposition products of acidic nature. With all oi these oils liquid products were obtained.

The eiliect oi incre the quantities of driers A dispersion was then produced, for which purpose the ingredients were prepared in two hatches. the batches thereafter being intermixed.

First batch 50 parts of oil (containiliz the driers) 2 parts a polyethyleneoxide condensation prodnot with caster cilia above) 'lycolmcnoolente 0.2 port triethauoishiiile M Part cetyl dim g (u "z xabovehanoniotiie Alter combining woman toforni'the di p rsion. the piI-ot 7.7. '1'en parts of j jthon added. Slight some were. noticeable: apparently no mal oi hydrogen peroxide place by treatment with remained in the dilperlion. The P W add tion was 0.86. A tut tam- After standing for thirty days. the pH was found to be 3.9. with excess hydrogen peroxide still present. At this time also the dispersion yielded a, liquid product which dried very rapidly upon evaporation of the water. No wrinkle formation was noticeable.

EXAMPLE 6 A batch of 100 parts of a dehydrated castor oil was milled on a paint mill with thirty-one parts of zinc oxide. Driers, as naphthanates, were then added, giving 0.07% lead, 0.03% cobalt and 0.03% zinc.

A dispersion was then produced, the constituents being prepared in two batches which were subsequently combined:

First batch 130 parts of the above mixture of oil, zinc oxide and driers 2 parts a polyethyleneoxide condensation product with castor oil (as above) 1 part cetyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (as above) 1 part Emulphor ON Second batch 60 parts water 1 part an aralkyl polyether alcohol condensation product (as above) After mixture of the two batches and forming the dispersion therewith, one part triethanolamine was added to the dispersion. This, dispersion was of the water-in-oil type which was converted to the oil-in-water type by the addition of seventy parts of water in which four parts of morpholine and two parts of a polyethyleneoxide condensation product with oleyl alcohol (as above) were dissolved. The pH of the dispersion was 8.9.

Ten parts of hydrogen peroxide were then added, and a test sample indicated a relatively hard solid, with a dry surface, after evaporation of the water.

Similar procedure was followed but without incorporating zinc oxide in the oil. This yielded a solid product which product, however, was

Company under the trade name of Aerosol 0T) 1 parts of a 1% aqueous casein solution A .test sample from the above dispersion indicated that the product did not dry as rapidly as the oil which was not dispersed.

Some hydrogen peroxide was then added to a portion of the foregoing dispersion, and during addition of the hydrogen peroxide coagulation took place, the coagulum being a solid mass. This portion contained only an anion active'stabilizing agent.

Another'portion of. the foregoing dispersion was then taken and employed as a batch for additional treatment. To improve the stability of the dispersion there was added five parts of water on the basis of 100 parts of the batch now being used, in which water there were dissolved non-ionic stabilizing agents, i. e., one part of a polyethyleneoxide condensation product with castor oil and- 0.5 part of a polyethylene oxide condensation product with oleyl alcohol (both as above). Twentyparts of hydrogen peroxide were then slowly added and immediately after this addition some foaming could be observed although heating was not noticed. The foaming continued for some time. while the mixture stood at room temperature. The dispersion contained large quantities of unchangedhydrogen peroxide. The product secured afte'r evaporation of the water was a sticky solid which lost its stickiness in about two hours. I

The reaction of the dispersion was acidic, the

pH thereof being 4.8 after standing for 48 hours.

After about five daysthe pH'was reduced to about 3.75am! at this time the dispersion coagulated, giving a coherent solid mass.

I claim:

1. A process in accordance with claim,9 in

an inorganic pigment, which. has been incorporated into the ester prior to the preparation of theaqueous emulsion.

3. A process in accordance with claim 9 in which the emulsion being oxidized also contains rather soft and had a somewhat sticky surface.

330 parts of the blown linseed oil 3 parts triethanolamine 3.3 parts of dioctyl ester of sodium sulfo-succinic acid (a suitable product of this kind being marketed by the American Cyanamid zinc oxide, which has bee'nincorporated into the ester prior to the preparation of the aqueous emulsion.

4. A process in accordance with claim :9 in. which the ester sele'ctedfor emulsification and oxidation comprises a drying fatty oil.

5. A process in accordance with claim 9 in which the ester'selected for emulsification and oxidation comprises an ester formed with a tetrahydric alcohol.

6. A process in accordance with claim 9 in which the ester selected for emulsiflcati'on and oxidation comprises a partially polymerized drying fatty oil.

7-. A process in'accordance with claim 11,in

which said ester is a bodied drying fatty oil.

8. A process in'accordance with claim 9in. which the ester selected for the emulsiflcation.

and oxidation comprises an ester of a fatty acid having conjugated double bonds in the fatty acid I radical. v

9. A process for producing stable aqueous oilin-water emulsions of thickened esters, which process comprises emulsifying in water by the aid ofan emulsifying agent a polyhydric alcohol ester of a'polyunsaturated long chain fatty'acid,

ll to form an oil-in-water emulsion and subjectin the emulsified particles to oxidation with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a drier, the emulsion, during oxidation, having a pH value between about 4 and 10, and the oxidation being continued until the ester is appreciably thickened.

10..A process for producing stable aqueous oili'n-water emulsions of thickened. esters, which process comprises emulsifying in water by the aid of an emulsifying agent a polyhydric alcohol ester or a polyunsaturated long chain fatty acid, to form an oil-in-water emulsion and subjecting the emulsified particles to oxidation with hydrogen peroxide in the'presence of a drier, the emulsion, during oxidation, being maintained-under super-atmospheric pressure, having a pH. value Y 2 between about 4 and 10, and the oxidation being continued until the ester is appreciably thickened.

11. A process for producing stable aqueous oilin-water emulsions of thickened esters, which process comprises emulsifying in water by the aid of an emulsifying agenta polymerized polyhydric alcohol ester of a'polyunsaturated long chain fatty acid, to form an oil-in-water emul- ,sion, and subjecting the emulsified particles to oxidation with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a drier, the emulsion, during oxidation, having a pH value between about 4 and 1! and the oxidation being continued until the ester is appreciably thickened.

PAUL STAMBERGER. 

